A new study issued in London on 15 February 2016 by the Child Rights International Network ranked Yemen 141st in the world in terms of children’s ability to access courts effectively to defend their rights.
The report, titled ‘Rights, Remedies and Representation,’ examined whether children can bring claims when their rights are violated, what legal resources are available to them, and how international child-rights standards are applied in national courts.
According to the study, Yemen has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, but it is unclear whether the convention has the force of law domestically. Several Yemeni laws still conflict with the convention, children cannot file civil or administrative claims on their own, legal aid is limited, and the broader justice system remains weak because of repeated political interference and poor enforcement.
The report also noted the absence of an independent human rights institution to investigate complaints involving violations of children’s rights, despite legal provisions calling for such a body. Seyaj highlighted the report as an important reminder that access to justice is essential to making children’s rights meaningful in practice.
